Event
Opera Parallèle Presents: Mad Men at the Opera with Leonard Bernstein's "Trouble in Tahiti" at Z Space
Opera Parallèle presents Leonard Bernstein's one-act gem of an opera Trouble in Tahiti Friday, April 26 and Saturday April 27 at 8pm; and Sunday April 28 at 2pm at Z Space, 450 Florida Ave., San Francisco.
A new production in an exciting new space for Opera Parallèle, Trouble in Tahiti features some of Bernstein's most haunting music. Begun on his honeymoon in 1951 between his Broadway successes of On the Town and West Side Story, it's a candid portrait of the troubled marriage of a young suburban couple. Many of the themes are echoed in the current television hit, Mad Men.
"It's entirely possible that the 20th century repertoire offers no more hilarious or eloquent testament to the emotional power of music than 'What a Movie,' the centerpiece aria from Leonard Bernstein's 1951 one-act opera 'Trouble in Tahiti.'" Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle (2008)
Samuel Barber's A Hand of Bridge will be presented before Tahiti as a short prologue. Two bored couples playing their customary game of bridge fantasize about the state of their relationship as they play out their hands.
Opera Parallèle's orchestra is conducted by Artistic Director Nicole Paiement. Concept Designer and Stage Director Brian Staufenbiel's staging is inspired by magazine covers of the 1960s and a bygone era of B movie classics.
The cast is lead by baritone and former Adler Fellow Eugene Brancoveanu as disillusioned Sam, with mezzo-soprano Lisa Chavez as his estranged wife Dinah. Sam and Dinah's marital discord hides a longing for love and intimacy while their happy consumerism masks spiritual emptiness. Also starring Krista Wigle, Andres Ramirez, and Randall Bunnell as the "Greek" chorus of bystanders providing satirical commentary.
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LocationZ Space
450 Florida Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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